Grant 13th in Helen Holm; Clodagh Walsh shines

Paula Grant. Picture Jenny Matthews/CashmanPhotography.ie

Lisburn's Paula Grant faces an anxious wait see if she's named in the Curtis Cup team after she closed with an 80 to finish tied for 13th in the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.

While she's considered a likely starter in New York in June, Grant finished 15 strokes behind England's Lily May Humphreys (16), who shot a superb 68 to win by a stroke from Scotland's Chloe Goadby on nine-under par with Castlewarden's Clodagh Walsh the next best of the Irish.

Humphreys now looks a certainty to be named in the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team on Thursday, while the likes of Shannon McWilliam and Goadby will hope they have done enough to impress on-looking captain Elaine Farquharson-Black.

Humphreys finished on nine under par after a superb closing four-under 68 in the breezy conditions, helped by a hat-trick birdies from the seventh, with two further birdies at 12 and 13 ultimately proving decisive.

Humphreys said: “It means a lot as I had lost form and recovered it for this event. I didn’t know about Chloe’s score until the 11th, but saw her holing putts everywhere, so was pleased to hold on.

“It’s great to have my game under control again. I think this is my biggest win, beating an international field. I felt if I could win this, then I had a chance for the Curtis Cup. My chances are up, but I don’t know whether I will get in.”

Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship, Royal Troon (Portland/Old, Par 72)

Detailed scores

Final:

• 1, L.M. Humphreys (Eng) 71 68 68 207;
• 2, C Goadby (Sco) 72 68 68 208;
• 3, L Grant (Swe) 69 69 71 209;
• 4, S McWilliam (Sco) 69 69 73 211;
• 5, I Wardle (Eng) 71 69 72 212.

Irish

• T13 Paula Grant (Lisburn) 74 68 80 222;
• T18 Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) 76 71 76 223;
• T23 Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) 75 72 77 224;
• 28 Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) 77 72 78 227;
• T36 Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) 78 69 83 230;
• T52 Ciara Casey (Hermitage) 78 76 79 233;  Valerie Clancy (Killarney) 74 78 81 233.